m4 siu2 dak1唔少得
Jyutpingm4 siu2 dak1
Yalem̀h síu dāk
Definition
Cannot do without; bound to be included; cannot be spared or left out.
colloquialdaily actionsfood
How it's used
Functions as a way to emphasize that something or someone is indispensable or must be included in a specific situation. It carries a slightly stronger sense of obligation or necessity than simply saying something is needed. Often used to reassure someone that they have not been overlooked or excluded from a group or a distribution of items.
Examples
For this trip, your gift definitely won't be forgotten.
When cooking this dish, ginger, spring onion, and garlic are really essential.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of being small. It is a set phrase indicating necessity, not size or quantity.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
